Arizona State Senate
1700 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2024
PHOENIX – This week the Senate Government Committee of Reference met to address the sunset review process of several government agencies including the Governor's Office on Tribal Relations. Republican Chairman Jake Hoffman announced, without explanation or justification, that all agencies, commissions, boards and offices will receive no more than a two-year continuation.
“The Governor's Office on Tribal Relations serves a vital role as the main liaison between Arizona’s state government and the 22 federally recognized tribes in Arizona. I am disappointed that the majority party feels that this agency only deserves a two-year continuation and I strongly disagree. Recently, Arizona has been dealing with the exploitation and crimes associated with our sober living home crisis. The Office has been instrumental in this fight, working with tribes, state agencies and the Missing & Murdered Indigenous People Taskforce to address this massive fraud and bring missing tribal members home safely. But unfortunately, a safe return isn't always the case. That is why I support the full ten-year continuation in HB2604, sponsored by Representative Mae Peshlakai, to ensure that tribes and other stakeholders are uplifted in order to stop these preventable tragedies from continuing,” stated Senator Theresa Hatathlie (LD6). “I want to thank my Democratic colleagues for making this continuation a priority to honor and recognize the importance of our tribal nations’ contribution to the state.”
“It is more critical than ever before to recognize the important role that the Governor's Office on Tribal Relations,” said Senator Sally Ann Gonzales (LD20). “This office, while not large or of great cost to the state, serves the native people of this land who are often ignored by government decision makers. I have sincere concerns that the two-year continuation would pull this office’s attention away from serving our tribal nations because of nothing more than radical legislative overreach. At this time, the Office has done nothing to deserve this short continuation and I believe that the lives, work, and investments of Arizona’s tribes are worth more than any political games.”
###
Comments